TYLER, Texas – A 31-year-old Flint, Texas woman has been arrested on federal charges in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney John M. Bales today.

Mindy Ritch was charged in a complaint on May 30, 2013, with student financial aid fraud and tampering with a witness. Ritch went before U.S. Magistrate Judge Judith K. Guthrie for an initial appearance today.

If convicted, Ritch faces up to five years in federal prison for the fraud charge and up to 20 years for tampering with a witness.

This case is being investigated by the U.S. Department of Education – Office of Inspector General, U.S. Secret Service, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, and the Tyler Junior College Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Nathaniel C. Kummerfeld is prosecuting this case.

A grand jury indictment is not evidence of guilt. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.